Charles “Lucky” Luciano, a notorious organized crime figure who was instrumental in the development of the modern-day mafia in the United States, passed away on January 26th, 1962, at the age of 64. Born in Sicily on November 24, 1897, Luciano formed numerous criminal associations in 1920s New York, and quickly rose to be one of the leaders of organized crime in the country. Luciano is credited with the establishment of the National Crime Syndicate, which brought together major organized crime families across the United States. He also organized the first national Cosa Nostra commission and introduced separating drug dealing and prostitution from major criminal activities. Later, while serving a 30-50-year sentence at Dannemora Prison, his cooperation with the Naval Intelligence Service in the 1940s helped to disrupt German sabotage activities in the US. Luciano’s lasting legacy as a mobster is still evident today, and his influence on organized crime still resonates in the United States and abroad.